The Society is delighted to learn that Fr George Westhaver, Principal of Pusey House in Oxford, has been presented with the Dunstan Award for Prayer and the Religious Life by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a ceremony held earlier this week at Lambeth Palace. It is a richly deserved recognition of the excellent and pioneering work Fr Westhaver has undertaken at Pusey House, including the establishment of the Oxford Scriptorium. The Scriptorium is a study group for students which runs throughout the working day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during term-time and is structured around periods of work, breaks, and prayer.

As we continue to pray that we as Christians might all be one, The Society is delighted to learn that Bishop Jonathan Baker has been appointed Chair of the Council for Christian Unity. Please hold Bishop Jonathan in your prayers as he undertakes this important role and for Christians of all denominations living in the Ukraine who are facing peril on a daily basis and an uncertain future.

The Society, in conjunction with the See of Fulham and supported by Forward in Faith, is delighted to release A Covenant With God: A Journey through Lent 2021. Through this devotional booklet, Fr Philip Barnes reflects on the Old Testament readings from the Lenten Sunday Masses, exploring the story of God’s relationship with His people and preparing the way for the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, which are marked by the Church's principal liturgies of the year over Holy Week and Easter.

The booklet can be used either on its own or in conversation with others in your parish community. There is a reflection for each Sunday in Lent with some questions to ponder in each case. A video introduction to the themes of the booklet is provided by the Bishop of Fulham:

If you are looking for further study material, we recommend The Society in the Diocese of Leeds's course on Communion and Catholicity. It is available here.

Lent is also a time during which we meditate upon the Stations of the Cross, often on the Fridays in Lent.  In 2020 we published this booklet  and this year we also make this version available.

The Society fervently hopes that you may have a prayerful Lent in this time of national emergency and as we prepare to celebration Our Lord's victory over death.

This year, working with others, we are delighted to make available two resources for Christmas: O come let us adore Him and The Wondrous Gift.  Please also see the letter from the Council of Bishops.

O come let us adore Him

The simple words "O come let us adore Him" from the well known Christmas carol "O come all ye faithful" speak so powerfully to us at this time, particularly as we think of the crib sitting, as it does, at the centre of the Christmas narrative. The Church Union and The Society, which is supported by Forward in Faith, are delighted to release on Sunday at 4pm two resources designed to enrich our crib devotions. One is a video of a crib service aimed at worshippers of all ages which was filmed at St Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood and features local children singing carols as well as prayers and readings from the Bishop of Richborough, the parish priest Fr Mark North and the curate Fr Matt Austen. The second resource is a prayer booklet of the same name which can equally well be used for our crib devotions at home as it can be in church. It too has prayers to be used by children and we are indebted to Clare Williams for her assistance with this aspect of the booklet. As we meditate on the words 'O come let us adore Him' we think not only of the infant Jesus in the crib but also of the Incarnation, the light of the world. When we next receive Jesus present in the Eucharist, we pray that we can say "O come let us adore him" with renewed zeal and love for Him. Amen.

It can be download it here.

The parish of St Thomas of Canterbury, Brentwood has also allowed us to share its Christingle video:

The Wondrous Gift

At 7pm on Christmas Eve, the Church Union and The Society, which is supported by Forward in Faith, will release its Christmas video 'The Wondrous Gift.' As part of a brief Christmas reflection, Bishop Will Hazlewood lights the fifth and final candle on the Advent wreath, while Fr Philip Barnes explores the profound theological themes of the season in his accessible talk. The video concludes with yet more wonderful music from the choir of St Stephen's Gloucester, Road. We are grateful to all those who contributed to the set of Advent and Christmas videos and we pray that this Christmas season brings you joy and peace.

It can be download here.

As we approach the holy season of Advent, and as we look forward to the return of public worship in time for the Second Sunday of Advent, the Church Union and The Society, which is supported by Forward in Faith, are delighted to inform you of our written and video resources for Advent, 'O Radiant Dawn'. In the written booklet - available here - you will find a reflection for use each day during Advent and under a different weekly theme: Patriarchs, Prophets, St John the Baptist & Our Lady.

In the videos - which will be available on this page on four successive Saturdays at 5.30pm, starting on 28 November - Bishop Will Hazlewood will lead us in a reflection, a priest of The Society will speak on that week’s theme and the choir of St Stephen’s, Gloucester Road will provide seasonal music. We commend not only these resources to you but also the excellent Advent resources produced by our friends at the Anglican Shrine in Walsingham as we pray for our nation in these difficult times and as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

We would like to thank Fr Philip Barnes for all his hard work in bringing this inspiring and high quality resource together.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4